The redesigned 2025 Subaru Forester brings to mind my single friend Kathy, who works for Catholic Social Services. For many years, she drove solo in an oversized canary yellow Plymouth Belvedere station wagon. Is it any wonder that she now pilots a Subaru Forester? While not the Spartan suburban dream promised by Plymouth, the Forester possesses much the same sensibility. One senses the pope would approve.

It’s a formula that works well for Subaru, which has sold some 2.6 million over 27 years. The average Forester buyer is 62 years old, no doubt reflecting the vehicle's conservative and practical nature. It attracts a sensible shopper who seeks rationality, not rapidity. Still, it’s hard to believe that the same automaker builds both the thrilling WRX and this dowdy dowager.

To be fair, designers have tried to bring in some flair to the Forester for 2025, but the result is ungainly, like your grandmother wearing Brandy Melville or Aritzia. It’s a funny-looking vehicle that resembles a Merrill hiking boot with alloy wheels. Don't forget to pack your Yeti.

Its woodsy outerwear doesn't alter its personality. It's obvious as soon as you take a seat behind the wheel. The driving position and seat height are reminiscent of a church pew. You are almost afraid to recline the seatback in case it becomes too comfortable. Yet the seat bolstering is better than before, and overall material quality seems nicer. Just don’t tell the pontiff.

The revised cabin is far more refined than before, and seems quieter at speed, as the automaker made a concerted effort to quell any clamor. Offered in Base, Premium, Sport, Limited and Touring trim levels, every Forester comes equipped with the sort of comfort and convenience items you’d expect. But if you live anywhere where the snowflakes fly, be sure to opt for the all-weather package. It adds heated seats, mirrors and wipers. That, along with its 8.7 inches of ground clearance, make it able to tackle roads your local DOT might have overlooked.

Like all modern instrument panels, the Forester’s is anchored by a center-mounted, high-resolution touchscreen. It’s vertically-oriented, measuring seven inches in standard configuration, as well as an optional 11.6-inch display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto come standard, and the software can receive over-the-air updates. The software’s on-screen buttons are large and it’s fairly easy to use. But its design is visually loud and graceless, lacking a clear hierarchy to make controls easy to find quickly.

Nevertheless, the Forester’s most important standard item is its all-wheel drive system, which fearlessly subjugates foul-weather. It’s aided by a 2.5-liter horizontally opposed four-cylinder engine that produces an adequate 180 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque through a continuously variable transmission, or CVT. A CVT is designed to constantly vary its gear ratio for optimal fuel efficiency. That said, it’s not always that quick to respond for additional power, a trait common to most, if not all, CVTs.

But there isn’t that much power to tap, despite peak power being now offered at lower rpms than before. Delivery is smooth and unruffled, although asking for more power results in the typical CVT delay as it makes up its mind which ratio is best. Reaching 60 mph is a fairly relaxed affair, making this a so-so partner for the cut and thrust of commuting combat. Steering is as uncommunicative as you’d expect, and braking is sufficient, but not exceptional. Body lean is moderate, the ride is well-controlled and it’s fairly comfortable. And, as is true of all Foresters, the view out is good in all directions.

So, performance is much as it was before. There’s no surprise here, which is the way its devotees like it.

And there’s a host of safety features, including a new one, emergency stop assist. It can stop the vehicle if the driver doesn’t, as well as activate the hazard lights and unlock the doors. There are also a few optional safety programs, including reverse automatic braking, blind-spot detection with lane change assist, automatic emergency steering and rear cross-traffic alert. This makes for one very safe vehicle. Need proof? In what has become an annual occurrence for 17 years, the Forester has earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's top safety pick designation. That means ensuring it shouldn’t break the bank.

As you might expect, the cabin proves roomy. There’s space for five adults, and 30 cubic feet of shlepping space. When not carrying passengers, the rear seats fold to expand the cargo hold to 74 cubic feet of lifestyle debris.

For a vast majority of drivers, the Forester supplies the innocuous, everyday hauling most people expect without muss, fuss or bother. Flashy? No. Instead, the 2025 Subaru Forester is comforting, functional and safe. Despite its redesign, it thankfully remains practical, not puerile.

2025 Subaru Forester

Base price: $29,695-$39,995

Engine: 2.5-liter horizontally-opposed four-cylinder

Horsepower/Torque: 180/178 pound-feet

EPA rating (combined city/highway): 29 mpg

Fuel required: Regular unleaded

Length/Width/Height: 183/72/68 inches

Ground clearance: 8.7 inches

Cargo capacity: 30-74 cubic feet

Towing capacity: 1,500 pounds

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